Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-10-20

Hon. X. A. Harrison. of Coiumbus-for-
well as one of the ablest lawyers We have
in Ohio, and what he says has great weight
with our judges, from those on the com
mon pleas bench up TO those in the su-
preme court. In speaking of the mixed
school, matter. in reply to questions from
the Washington Court House school board.
he declares that "the only object in enact
ing section 400S. which was repealed by the
, last legislature. was to authorize schoo!
boards TO organize separate schools for col
ored youth" and that evidently the abso-
lutte repeal of said section 4O0s WAS intend
ed 10 take away the power to maintain at
, public expense separate schools for colored
children" Mr.. Harrison further says:
| The only possible object or purpose which
the legislature could have had in repeating
said section was TO prevent. in the future.
such separate schools. Ii is true that sec
tions 1887 and 40l3 confer upon boards of
school directors large discretionary powers
But in neither of these sections is there any
reference to any discrimination between
white and colored children in the organiza-
tion and administration Of common schools.
and the enactment OF section 400S shows
that the legislature did not understand that
either of said sections $685. and 40l3 au-
thorized separate schools for coiored chill
dren TO be organized. The legislature would
undoubtedly have modified the provisions
of these sections when they repealed sec
tion 400S if. in thsir Judgment. the power
.Axff.ASSlN nNnga,r...l nv, hot m h..
exercised under sections 39ss and 40l3.
The query occurred 10 me whether the
repeating act had any other legal effect than
To prevent the Organization of separate
schools for colored youth ia school districts
in which such schools had not been organ
ized when the act WAS passed; 80 that in
districts in which such schools had been
organized when the act passed separate
schools might he continued. On full con-
sideration am convinced that such All in
depreciation of the act Is inadmissabe. for
two reasons:
|. Such limited effect and operation of
the statute would defeat the manifest in
tention of the legislature in repeating Sec
tion i00S, which was To abrOgata in this
state all legal distinctions on the basis of
color.
>. The action of school directors which
does not create contractual obligations is
not per manent in its nature and operation.
and is subject 10 legislative control.
The knights Of Labor of this country
have closed their annual session at Mime
apoliS. and they sustained Mr.. Powderly in
all the positions he has taken. BY vote
Of Il 10 -. they decided that Knights Of
Labor. in parade, shall carry nothing but
state or national colors. and the rule pro-
hibitinc the sale of liquors at picnics was
sustained against a motion TO change BY a
vote of l04 to ~. The action in both these
shows the patriotism and moral force of
the order. The next annual meeting of
the order is 10 be held in Indianapolis OF
the results of tie discussions and actions.
the Associated Press report speaks as fol-
lows:
The feeling among the majority Of the
eIegates 10 the assembly is that the gener-
al results of the present session are most
gratifying. While there have been lively
nights over several matters. the organiza-
ton is as strong a. ever, and legislation
h as been enacted which will be of great
value to the order in the future. Mr. Pow
derly said: ''ln nutshell, think that the
Legislation passed at the present session
will be greatly beneficial to the organiza-
ton. A coed many important changes in
the constitution have been made The
poorer features have been abolished and the
amendments adopted will. think. in the
end, prove to he Just what was needed. |
look for healthy increase during the com
ing year"
The organization doubtless has its faults,
like all other organizations. but it is cei-
tainly making progress in the right drec-
tion.